The Extension of Imperial Authority Under Diocletian and the Tetrarchy, 285-305CE

The Extension of Imperial Authority Under Diocletian and the Tetrarchy, 285-305CE
Author: Joshua Edward Petitt
Publisher:
Total Pages: 127
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN:

Despite a vast amount of research on Late Antiquity, little attention has been paid to certain figures that prove to be influential during this time. The focus of historians on Constantine I, the first Roman Emperor to allegedly convert to Christianity, has often come at the cost of ignoring Constantine's predecessor, Diocletian, sometimes known as the "Second Father of the Roman Empire". The success of Constantine's empire has often been attributed to the work and reforms of Diocletian, but there have been very few studies of the man beyond simple biography. This work will attempt to view three of Diocletian's major innovations in order to determine the lasting effect they had over the Roman Empire and our modern world. By studying 1) Diocletian's assumption of new, divinely inspired titles; 2)Diocletian's efforts at controlling prices in the marketplace; and 3)Diocletian's Persecution of the Christians in the Roman Empire at the turn of the fourth century CE, we can gain valuable insight into the ways through which Roman Emperors extended their authority throughout different facets of Ancient World, including developments that would shape the future of Western Civilization for the next 1400 years.

The Tetrarchy as Ideology

The Tetrarchy as Ideology
Author: Filippo Carla-Uhink
Publisher: Franz Steiner Verlag Wiesbaden GmbH
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023-02-02
Genre:
ISBN: 9783515134002

The 'Tetrarchy', the modern name assigned to the period of Roman history that started with the emperor Diocletian and ended with Constantine I, has been a much-studied and much-debated field of the Roman Empire. Debate, however, has focused primarily on whether it was a true 'system' of government, or rather a collection of ad-hoc measures undertaken to stabilise the empire after the troubled period of the 3rd century CE. The papers collected here aim to go beyond this question and to present an innovative approach to a fascinating period of Roman history by understanding the Tetrarchy not as a system of government, but primarily as a political language. Their focus thus lies on the language and ideology of the imperial college and court, on the performance of power in imperial ceremonies, the representation of the emperors and their enemies in the provinces of the Roman world, as well as on the afterlife of Tetrarchic power in the Constantinian period.

Imperial Representation Under Diocletian and the Tetrarchy (A.D. 284-305)

Imperial Representation Under Diocletian and the Tetrarchy (A.D. 284-305)
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2003
Genre:
ISBN:

The emperor Diocletian (A.D 284-305) established an entirely new system of governing the Roman world, which is known today as the "Tetrarchy." Diocletian's system saw four men, twoAugusti and two Caesars, sharing control of the Roman Empire and basing themselves in different geographical locations. As such, the Tetrarchs were able to deal with threats to the Empire's borders much more efficiently than one emperor. In order to contrast the Tetrarchs from the civil wars and usurpations of the fifty years that had preceded them, a new system ofimperial representation was developed. This thesis examines surviving examples of Tetrarchic imperial representation. This includes coins and medals of the Tetrarchs, porphyry statue groups, a monument of five columns in the Forum Romanum (the F nfs(ulendenkmal), the Arch of Galerius in Thessalonike, wall paintings at Luxor, and the so-called Arcus Novus in Rome. Onall of these monuments, the Tetrarchs are consistently shown as four equal emperors, but a single ruling unit. The new portraiture, costume and attributes of the Tetrarchs are thought to beintended to show the Tetrarchs as identical and equal. This concept, termed similitudo, was used to underscore the ideal of Tetrarchic harmony (concordia). Jupiter and Hercules find a specialplace in Tetrarchic representation as the patrons of the two Tetrarchic houses. The use of other personifications and divinities in Tetrarchic representation showed the divine prerogative, legitimacy and the universality of the Tetrarchic system. It is argued that Tetrarchic art and monuments do not represent a decline in Roman art as was once commonly thought. Instead, itseems that the Tetrarchy marks the beginning of a move towards more symbolic representation. The overall effect of these changes was to represent the Tetrarchs as a cohesive and powerfulruling unit.

Diocletian and the Tetrarchy

Diocletian and the Tetrarchy
Author: Roger Rees
Publisher: Debates and Documents in Ancie
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2004
Genre: History
ISBN:

This book aims to make accessible the sources and controversies concerning a key period in the history of the Roman Empire - the reign of Diocletian and its immediate aftermath. Diocletian was an emperor of unusual ambition, and his reign saw considerable military success, an experiment in collegiate government, a move towards provincial capitals away from Rome, a reorganisation of the administrative machinery of empire and its finances, and a committed project to persecute the Christians. In Part I, an introduction to Diocletian and the world of the late third century is followed by six thematic chapters covering a range of aspects of government and society under this emperor, including military, economic, religious and administrative affairs. These chapters discuss the original sources, highlight their strengths and weaknesses, and consider the main scholarly approaches to them. Throughout Part I there are regular cross references to the source material which is presented in Part II - this includes literary, archaeological, artistic, legal, and documentary evidence, as well as coins and inscriptions. All texts are in English, and there is a guide to further reading, a full bibliography, some questions for consideration, a glossary of technical terms, and a brief list of relevant online resources.

The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire

The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire
Author: Edward Luttwak
Publisher: JHU Press
Total Pages: 297
Release: 2016-05-18
Genre: History
ISBN: 1421419459

A newly updated edition of this classic, hugely influential account of how the Romans defended their vast empire. At the height of its power, the Roman Empire encompassed the entire Mediterranean basin, extending much beyond it from Britain to Mesopotamia, from the Rhine to the Black Sea. Rome prospered for centuries while successfully resisting attack, fending off everything from overnight robbery raids to full-scale invasion attempts by entire nations on the move. How were troops able to defend the Empire’s vast territories from constant attacks? And how did they do so at such moderate cost that their treasury could pay for an immensity of highways, aqueducts, amphitheaters, city baths, and magnificent temples? In The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire, seasoned defense analyst Edward N. Luttwak reveals how the Romans were able to combine military strength, diplomacy, and fortifications to effectively respond to changing threats. Rome’s secret was not ceaseless fighting, but comprehensive strategies that unified force, diplomacy, and an immense infrastructure of roads, forts, walls, and barriers. Initially relying on client states to buffer attacks, Rome moved to a permanent frontier defense around 117 CE. Finally, as barbarians began to penetrate the empire, Rome filed large armies in a strategy of “defense-in-depth,” allowing invaders to pierce Rome’s borders. This updated edition has been extensively revised to incorporate recent scholarship and archeological findings. A new preface explores Roman imperial statecraft. This illuminating book remains essential to both ancient historians and students of modern strategy.

Roman Architecture and Urbanism

Roman Architecture and Urbanism
Author: Fikret Yegül
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages:
Release: 2019-07-31
Genre: Art
ISBN: 1108577067

Since antiquity, Roman architecture and planning have inspired architects and designers. In this volume, Diane Favro and Fikret Yegül offer a comprehensive history and analysis of the Roman built environment, emphasizing design and planning aspects of buildings and streetscapes. They explore the dynamic evolution and dissemination of architectural ideas, showing how local influences and technologies were incorporated across the vast Roman territory. They also consider how Roman construction and engineering expertise, as well as logistical proficiency, contributed to the making of bold and exceptional spaces and forms. Based on decades of first-hand examinations of ancient sites throughout the Roman world, from Britain to Syria, the authors give close accounts of many sites no longer extant or accessible. Written in a lively and accessible manner, Roman Architecture and Urbanism affirms the enduring attractions of Roman buildings and environments and their relevance to a global view of architecture. It will appeal to readers interested in the classical world and the history of architecture and urban design, as well as wide range of academic fields. With 835 illustrations including numerous new plans and drawings as well as digital renderings.

Eric II

Eric II
Author: Rasiel Suarez
Publisher:
Total Pages: 1455
Release: 2010
Genre: Coins, Ancient
ISBN: 9780976466413

The Emperor Constantine

The Emperor Constantine
Author: Michael Grant
Publisher: Hachette UK
Total Pages: 218
Release: 2011-12-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 1780222807

A study of one of the ancient world's most fascinating figures. Fascinating and readable biography by a great populariser of classical civilisation. Directly responsible for momentous transformations of the Imperial scene, Constantine will always be famous as the 1st Christian Emperor of Rome, and for refounding ancient Byzantium as Constantinople - events which rank amongst the most significant in history. In art, politics, economics and particularly in religion, the life of Constantine acts as a bridge between past and present. Was he the last notable Roman Emperor, or the first medieval monarch ? Was the Great convert a saint and hero, or should we regard him as a murderer who killed his wife, his eldest son , and many of his friends to further his own ambitions? These are just some of the issues that are raised in this stimulating biography.

Theodosius

Theodosius
Author: Gerard Friell
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 452
Release: 2005-08-08
Genre: History
ISBN: 113578261X

Emperor Theodosius (379-95) was the last Roman emperor to rule a unified empire of East and West and his reign represents a turning point in the policies and fortunes of the Late Roman Empire. In this imperial biography, Stephen Williams and Gerry Friell bring together literary, archaeological and numismatic evidence concerning this Roman emperor, studying his military and political struggles, which he fought heroically but ultimately in vain. Summoned from retirement to the throne after the disastrous Roman defeat by the Goths at Adrianople, Theodosius was called on to rebuild the armies and put the shattered state back together. He instituted a new policy towards the barbarians, in which diplomacy played a larger role than military might, at a time of increasing frontier dangers and acute manpower shortage. He was also the founder of the established Apostolic Catholic Church. Unlike other Christian emperors, he suppressed both heresy and paganism and enforced orthodoxy by law. The path was a diffucult one, but Theodosius (and his successor, Stilicho) had little choice. This new study convincingly demonstrates how a series of political misfortunes led to the separation of the Eastern and Western empires which meant that the overlordship of Rome in Europe dwindled into mere ceremonial. The authors examine the emperor and his character and the state of the Roman empire, putting his reign in the context of the troubled times.